Shearing-machine.



PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.-

R. SQHOFIBLD. 'SHBARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001219, 1006.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Hlllllllllllllllllllllll PA TENTED FEB. 19, 1907. 4

R. SGHOFIELD.

SHEARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001210. 1906. 8 H E EE B- PATENTED FEB, 19 190?.

R. $CEOPIBLD. SHEARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 10. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A UNITED sTAT; s rATENT ors on.

- RICHARD SCHOEIELD, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CAN DA,AssIeNOaTOTHE l JBIRMINGHAMJRON FOUNDRY, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT,A'CORPOBAI TION.

sHEARmG-MAOHINE.

Patented ree s, 1907-.

Application filed October 10,1906- Serial No. 338,280. 4

To all wit/mt it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD SCHOFIELD, a subject of Great Britain, residing at Toronto, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shearing-Machines; and I do herebydeclare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side elevation of my improved machine; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same;

ing the length of the pitman the feed mechanism; Fig. 14', a, section,

that there is perfect'cuttingicontact between the shear-blades "at the point of "shearing a y. 1of thefcut without 111 any way 4 "rigidity of the. movable'shear-blade, to pro- Lth I means for feeding the material to be cut l tical plane intersecting Fig. 3, anerid elevation of the same from the right-hand side; Fig. 4, an enlarged vertical section of the stationary and movable shearblades; Fig. 5, an enlarged detail in elevation of part ofthe feed mechanism; Fig. '6, an end elevation of the adjustable stop for disenga ing the feed mechanism from the fabric; ig, 7, a side elevation showing the detent which serves toie'tain the fingers of the feed mechanism in their disengaged position; Fig.8,a section on the line a b of Fig. 2; Fig. 9, a sectional detail showing the spring for the finger-bar of the feed mechanism; Fig.10, an enlarged plan view of the stationary shear-blade and bed part .of the movable shear-blade being shown in section; Fig. 11, a sectional detail'of 'partof the machine, showing part of the gearing; Fig. 12, a sectional detail of one'of the sprim -counterbalances for the movable shear-bla' c; Fig. 13, a sectional detail showing the method of adjustand the drive of partly in elevation, on the line at y of Fi 3.

My invention relates to machines used for cutting cloth or other materials of considerable Width and in which the cutting is done by a vertically-movable knife or shear-blade cooperating with a stationary knife or shear blade.

:"My"o bject' is to so arrange theapparatus at given momentduring the whole length sacrificmg the liable to stick or get outof line.

claimed.

shaped to support different parts:

blade or knife 59 The knife-bar 4is secure a 12, and each contains a coil-spring.7,-bearing vertically adjusting these bolts the tension of; the sprin will be adjusted to -accurately; counterbalance the weight of the a movable. .knife'and the connected parts.

the main shaft 12, provided withcthe ausual fast-and-loose pulleys. For the purposeof,

connected with one end ofthe walking-beam 16, pivoted at its middle-onithe-frame' of the machine- The other end ,of the. walking with the adjacent end oftthetknifef-bar the eccentrics are set dlamet'ca'llygopposite one another as regards their throw'it will be 1 isthe frame of the mane-Seamato the vertical rods 6, having' suitablebearfi ings on the frame of the machine These. rods are preferably hollow, as shownlin Fig.2

a ainst the upper end of the rod and against;

the head of a bolt 8, whichis adjustableonz a bracket 9 by-means'of suitable nuts. -By= beam is connected, by means of a,linliil'l,

which will be reliable and accurate' and-not'r \Vith these objects in viewmy inventionconsists, essentially, of the constructions hereinafter describedand then definitely 2 is the b d, preferably corrugatedback of the stationary knife or shearing-blade 3. 4 is the knife-bar of the movable shearin The movable knife is operatedfroin the shaft 10, driven by means of gearing. 11 from;

driving the movable knife the shaft] 10 car-,-

the second eccentric 13 has its eccentric-rod 51 5 l i seen that the movable shearing-blade isiie; ciprocated in perfect synchronisrn at. each end. l 1 Averyimportant feature sm'y e n is the arrangement of the movable, shearing} 1 blade, which I will now describe; 1 Referring particularlytol igsje Y 1 will beseen that themovable;

at an acute angle-the was: bi videisiniple and effective means forop'erating arranged parallel to the stationary as movable shear-blade; and ;l '.O provide viewed from above, but that itlies n aye} the heads of studs 22, screwed therein.

vertical. plane which lies at the cutting edge of the stationary shearing-blade This is accomplished by hinging the movable blade itself at the desired angle on the knife-bar by its upper edge. From the knife-bar 4 one or more stems 18 extend through suitable holes in the movable knife. These stems are provided with nuts 19, screwed thereon. On each stem, between the nut and. the movable knife-blade, is a coil-spring 20. The mow able blade is also provided with set-screws 21, preferably corresponding in number and location to the stems 18. These set-screws engage the knife-bar preferably l: y engaging The springs, it will be seen, tend to throw the movable she aring-blade into contact with the stationary shearing-blade, while the extent of the forward motion may be limited "by means of the s'etscrews 21. The lower edge of the movable shearingblade is also cut on the-bevel in the ordinaiy manner. The axis on which the knife-bar is pivoted is also, it will be seen, set back from the vertical plane in which the cutting edge of the stationary knifeblade lies. The result of the construction just described is that the stationary knife and movable knife can only engage one another at one point at any given time. At the commencement of the downward stroke this engagement will take place at that end of the movable shearing-blade which is set forward the farther from the stationary blade. As the cut progresses and the knife moves downward this point of contact shifts along toward the other side of the machine, the n iov able shearing-blade rocking on its hinge to permit each successive portion of the m'ov.

able blade shifting forward to the cuttingline represented by the edge of the stationary blade. This movement results in the machine haying a perfect shearing out similar to the out of an ordinary pair of good hamlshears, and itwill be observed that I accomplish this result with the use of two perfectly rigid shearing-blades. I thus avoid all the diliiculties which occur with ordinary shear ing-blades in which the cutting edges of the stationary and movable knives are in the same verticalv plane. In this latter case it is absolutely impossible to make the shearing blades and keep themmathematically perfect from end to end, so as to produce edge s capable of properly shearing all classes of fab! ics.

, With my rigid and yet spring-held mow able knife any irregularities in the cutting edges are immediately compensated for, as

the movable cutting-knife is always auto-- matically pressed forward to effectually enge with the "stationary blade at that one point in its edge which requi es to be at any given moment in the cutting-line. 1

i It will be noted. that, as already described, the pivot or hinge of the movable blade is set forward fromv the edge of the stationary blade- This has a tendency to cause the movable blade to hug tightly the stationary blade. For cutting t'nin fabric I would probably locate this point farther forward than for the cutting of stiiler or heavier fabrics, as the former are more difficult to shear with a good clean cut.

In connection with the apparatus I employ a special feed which works with absolute accuracy and certainty. A1;- each side of the bed 1 form guides 23, through which slide the side bars 24. Connected at each end to these side bars is the transverse feed-bar 25. On this feed-bar is journaled the finger-bar 26, carrying the gripping-fingers 27. The finger-bar is hollow, and contained therein is a torsion-spring 2%. (See Fig. 9.) One end of this torsion-spring is rigidly held in a block 29, journaled in the lug 30 on the feed-bar. By means of this block the tension of the spring may be adjusted and the block subsequemly clamped by means of the set-screw 31. The finger-bar is held with the fingers discngaged'from the feed-bar by 'an arm 32, which engages a spring-actuated detent33. (See Fig. 7.) Throughthis' detent is screwed an adjustable coinacr-screw 34.v At one end of the bed is secured a $1.01) 35, with which the contact-screw 34 may engage when the feed-bar has reached a position for the fingers to engage the. edge of the fabric 36. This contact releases the detent and allows the fingers to close upon the edge of the fabric, which latter is normally raised slightly above. the stalionary knife by means of a guide comprising a pla'.e 37, secured to the bed 2 and projecting slightly upward at an angle therefrom toward the stationary cut rer 3 and the upper plate 56, which is arranged above the plate 37 and parallel therewith, between which plates the fabric 36 passes, the plate- 56 being adapted to be moved toward or from the plate 37 by thumbnuis 57, whereby the plate may be pressed with more or less frictionupon the fabric. (See particularly Figs. 4 and 8.) Connected with the linger-bar is an arm 38, through the end of which a contaccpiece 39 is vertically adjust-able; (See particularly Fig. 5.)

A slide 40 is longitudinally movable on the guides 41, formed on the end of the frame of the machine. This slide may be clamped by means of a set-screw 42. This slide is also n'efcrably provided with a point er 43, which serves 10 indicate the exact position of the slide. The slide carries the cam piece 44, which is adapted to engage the contact-piece 39 and rock the finger-bar to permit of the arm 32 engaging the de'ient 33. Thus at the forward end of its stroke the feed mechanism is disengaged from the fabric and reengaged with the fresh-cut edge at the rearward end of its stroke.

- .plate 37 a series of spring-fingers 58, which project beyond the guide and bear against the under face of the fabric slightly in rear of the edge of the sta-.ionary cutter 3 and so that when the movable blade rises the fingers Willforce" the edge of-the fabric upward.

- While the engagement of the fabric is at a substantially :constantposition, yet the disengagement may be accomplished at any desired point by adju'sting the slide 40 back and forth on its guides.

The reciprocating movement of the feed mechanism is imparted in the following mannerd On the end of the shaft is secured a crank disk 45.,"provided with a radially adjustable wrist-pin 46, of any ordinary construetion. :Journaled. on the wrist-pin is a pitman47, the other end of which is pivotally -"connected with the crank-arm 48, secured to theendof the shaft 49, journaled on anupward extension of the frame. Secured to this shaft are the crank-arms 50. lower ends of these crank-arms are pivotally connected, by means of the links 51, with the ends'of the sidebars24.

It will bB'IIO'tGd on reference particularly to Fig. 2 that the guides 23, adjacent to the rear end of the machine, are slotted to permit of the passage; of the connections between the side bars and the links.

The mechanism described is of course suitably proportioned and timed to feed a fresh length of-fabricwhile the knife is in its up position-audio effect the return stroke while the knife isengaged in cutting.

' By adjusting the wrist-pin 46 to and from o the shaft 10 the length of the stroke of the feed mechanism may be adjusted; but as such'an adjustment shortens the stroke at I uSingb'OthItheadjustment of the crank and the "adjustment of the pit'man any desired lengtlr f'feed'iiiay be obtained, while I insirref't-ha i'ieFfeed inech'an'ismwill at all'times fe'achthe 'pmpeepcsieone engage the fresh- I ,havefjfoiiiid that there is much difficulty "rgettifig a'shaftj 'suchas49,wiiich will be of t" stoma shaft means that the t\ o side bars wllfnot move exactly in unison,

whi'fzh re sults'in'jamining inthe-gu'ides and in 1 a lack of a proper constant parallelism be- The tween the feed-bar and the shearing-blades. A shaft strong enough to be free from torsion under the strain to which it is subjected would be far too heavy and massive to be emloyed in the position in which the shaft 49 is lbcated. I therefore overcome the difficulty by placing on the shaft 49 a sleeve 54, provided with the arms 55. One of these arms is clamped to one of the arms 50. In setting up the machine. the other two arms 50 and will stand at an angle to one another. The T are then drawn together to twist the shat .and sleeve in opposite directions until each is strained as far as it can be, having reference to the power they are expected to transmit. These last two arms are then linked together. This combined structure will be found to be exceedingly stiff and will show no signs of torsion whenthe machine is in operation.

\Vhen in operation, my machine runs perfectly and without noise or vibration. Its feed is regular, positive, and certain, and the shearing is accomplished with absolute certainty and perfection of cut.

I claim- 1. In a shearing-machine the combination of a stationary shearihg-blade, 'a verticallymovable cross-bar, a stiff shearing-blade horizontally hinged thereon by its upper edge in a vertical plane intersecting at an acute angle the vertical plane in which lies the cutting edge of the stationary shearing-blade, the lower edge of the. movable blade being also on a bevel or incline relative to the horizontal, and springs engaging the bar and the blade tending to press forward the latter into engagement with the stationaryshearing-blade, substantially as described. 2. In a shearinganachine, the combination of a stationary shearing-blade, a verticallyinovable cross-bar, 'a stiff shearing-blade horizontally hinged thereon by its upper edge in a vertical plane intersecting at an acute angle the vertical plane in which lies the cutting edge of the stationary shearing-blade, the lower edge of the movable blade being also on a bevel or incline relative to the horizontal, springs engaging the bar and the blade tending to press forward the latter into engagement with the stationary shearing-blade, and a set-screw forming an adjustable stop to the forward movement of the movable blade, substantially as described.

3. In a sheariiig-machine, the combination i of a transverse stationaryshearing-blade set on the bias, a vertically-movable shearingblade adapted to cooperate therewitl'i, a :5 cross-shaft at an angle to and belowthe IIC '! blades, andconnections therefron'i to theopblade adapted to cooperate therewith, a crosson the bias, a. vertically-movable shearing-.-

shaft at an angle to and below the blades, eccentrics at the opposite ends of said crossshaft and connections between the said eccentrics and the respective ends of the movable blade for raising or lowering the same.

5. In a shearing-machine, the combination of a transverse stationary shearing-blade set on the bias, a vertically-movable shearingblade adapted to cooperate therewith, a cross-shaft, an eccentric thereon below one end of the movable blade, an eccentric-rod therefor pivoted on the movable shearingblade, an eccentric on the other endof the shaft, a fulcrumed walking-beam operated by the second eccentric and suitably connected with the other end of the movable blade, substantially as described.

6. In a shearing-machine a feed-bar longitudinal rods to which said feed-bar is connected, guides for said rods at opposite sides of the machine, a rock-shaft, ar secured to said shaft, operating connections between the arms and the rods, and a sleeve on the shaft, the sleeve and the shaft being twisted ,in opposite directions-and clamped together,

substantially as described.

7. In a shearing-machine, the combination with the feeding mechanism of a rock-shaft, a sleeve thereon, the shaft and sleeve being twisted in opposite directions and clamped together, means connected to one end of the air formed'by the shaft and sleeve for rockmg them, and rock-arms connected one to each end of said pair for operatingthe feed iechanism, substantially as described.

8. In a shearing-machine, the combination with the feeding mechanism of a rock-shaft, rock-arms secured thereto, a sleeve-on the shaft, arms connected with the sleeve, and means connected to one end of the shaft for rocking the same, the shaft and sleeve being twisted'in opposite directions and the arms, on the sleeve secured to the arms on the shaft for operating the feed mechanism, substantially as described.

9. In a shearing-machine the combination of a feed-bar, longitudinal rods to which said feed-bar is connected, guides for saidrods at opposite sides of the machine, a rock-shaft, arms secured to said shaft, operating connections between the shaft and the rods, a crank arm on the shaft, a driving-shaft, a crankdisk on the 'driving shaft, a wrist-pin radially adjustable on the disk, a' pitman connecting the wrist-pin and crank-arm, and means for adjusting the length of saidpitm an, substantially as described.

10. In a shearing-machine, the combination of a feedbar, longitudinal rods to which said feed-bar is connected, guides for said rods at opposite sides of the machine, a rockshaft, arms secured to said shaft, operating connections between the shaft and the rods, a crank-arm on the shaft, :1. driving-shaft, a

for engaging the gripping means with'the radially adjust'ableon the disk, a pitman ,eonmeeting, the wrist-pin andcrank-arm, means for adjusting the le th of said pitman, grip- ,pingmea'ns carried y the feed-bar, means fabric, and means for releasing the gripping means adjustable lengthwise of the machine, substantially as .-de scr1bed.

11. In a shearing-machine feeki mechanism comprising a; ansverse feeexhar, a finger-b ar jOurnaled thereon, grippiug-fingers fast on the fingenbai and adapted to co6perate withthe feed-ban to grip the edge of the fabric to be fed, means tending to engage the fingers with the feed-bar, longitudinalguides on which said feed-bar is longitudinally movable, means for reciprocating the feed-bar on said guides, a detent adapted to hold the finger-bar with its fingers out of engagement with the feed-bar, a stop adjacent to the shears adapted to release the detent, and

means at the opposite end of the stroke of the feed-bar adapted, to rock the finger-bar todisengage the fingers and engage the detent, substantially as described.

v 12. In a shearing-machine feed mechan- 'ism comprising a transversefeed-bar, a finger-bar j ournaled thereon, gripping-fingers fast on the finger-bar-and adapted to coop erate with the feed-bar to grip the edge of the fabric to be fed, means tending to engage'the fingers with the feed-bar, longitudinal guides on which said feed-bar is longitudinally movable, means for reciprocating the feed-bar on said-guides, a detent adapted to hold the finger-bar with its fingers out of engagement with the feed-bar, a stop adjacent to the shears adapted to release thedetent, means IOU at the opposite end bf the stroke of-the feedbar adapted to rock the finger-ha Qto disengage th'e fingers and engage the d ltent, and; means for adjusting the disengaging means lengthwise of the machine, substantially as described. V 13. In a shearing-machine feed mechanism comprising a transverse feed-bar, a hollow finger-bar j'ournaled thereon, grippingfingers fasten the finger-bar and-adapted to cooperate with the feed-bar .to grip the edge of the fabric to be fedfmeans tending to engage the fingers with the feed-bar, longitudi nal guides on which said feed-bar is longi' tudinally movable, means for reciprocating the feed-bar on said guides, a detent adapted to hold the finger-bar with its fingers out of engagement with the feed-bar, a stop adjacent to the shears adapted to release the detent, and means at the opposite end ofthe. stroke of the feed-bar adapted to'ro'ck' the finger-bar to disengage the fingers and en gage the detent, substantially as described.

crank-disk on the driving-shait, awrisvpin shearing-blade coasting with the stationary blade at uid-plate secured to the bed of the nmvhine m not of the stat ionary blade, said plate projecting upwardly therefrom, a clamping-plate and spring-fingers secured to the under face of the guide-plate and pro jecting forwardly therefro I u.

15. In a shearingdnachine, the combination with a stationary shearingblade, a, vertically-movable cross-bar, a stiff shearingblede horizontally hinged thereon, said crossbar mounted on vertically-arranged tubular rods arranged at opposite ends of the crossbar and closed at their upper ends, a spring within each tubiilar'i'od, hearings at each side of the machine over \\i wh said tubular rods extend and on which the lower ende of said springs rest whereby the {Vertimllymovable cross-bars are counterbaluiurul, substantially as described.

in testimony \Yhul'tnl I have signed this -\peciliczition in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD SCIIOFIELD.

Witnesses ALLIXGTOX T. BOWLBY, Roerr. J. Pm'r'rm. 

